Novel Insights into Prokineticin 1 Role in Pregnancy-related Diseases

Abstract

Prokineticin 1 (PROK1) is a secreted protein involved in a range of physiological activities such as cell proliferation, migration, angiogenesis, and neuronal cell proliferation. Emerging evidences show that PROK1/PROK receptors (PROKRs) are expressed by trophoblasts, and decidual stroma cells at the maternal-fetal interface. PROK1 plays a critical role in successful pregnancy establishment by regulating the decidualization, implantation and placental development. Dysregulation of prokineticin signaling has been described in certain pathological states associated with pregnancy, including pre-eclampsia, recurrent miscarriage and fetal growth restriction. In this review, the expression and pleiotropic roles of PROK1 under physiological and pathological pregnancy conditions are discussed.

MRAP2 Inhibits β-Arrestin-2 Recruitment to the Prokineticin Receptor 2

“…The results demonstrate that MRAP2, acting as an allosteric regulator, modulates PKR2-induced β-arrestin-2 recruitment. This study may allow for the identification of allosteric sites as new specific targets for potential drugs useful for the treatment of the different pathologies correlated with prokineticin, especially obesity [5,[31][32][33][34][35][36][37]. Recently, it has been demonstrated that PK2, binding to prokineticin receptor 1 (PKR1), acts as an adipokine and reduces food intake and adipose tissue proliferation via the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus (ARC)-melanocortin system [18][19][20].…”

“…The results demonstrate that MRAP2, acting as an allosteric regulator, modulates PKR2induced β-arrestin-2 recruitment. This study may allow for the identification of allosteric sites as new specific targets for potential drugs useful for the treatment of the different pathologies correlated with prokineticin, especially obesity [5,[31][32][33][34][35][36][37].…”